Penn State women’s soccer: Nittany Lions picked best in Big Ten

No. 6 Penn State has been chosen by Big Ten coaches as the favorite in the conference in a preseason poll released Wednesday.

The Nittany Lions, who advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last season and appeared in the national tournament for a 20th straight year, have been No. 1 in the preseason poll each season since the conference began the list in 2003.

Michigan was second in the poll, Rutgers and Wisconsin shared third place and Illinois was fifth.

Each team also had three representatives on the Preseason Players to Watch list, including Nittany Lion goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom and midfielders Raquel Rodriguez and Mallory Webber.